Barbados Minister Urges “Bold” Tourism Steps

A renewed call

By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

Barbados Minister of Tourism and International Transport Richard Sealy is calling for key players in the tourism industry to take bold, innovate steps in an effort to move Barbados forward as a tourist destination.

Sealy’s advice came in his message to mark World Tourism Day.

“The global tourism industry, due to changing customer demands, has entered an evolutionary phase, with new and emerging destinations successfully competing with established destinations offering similar products often at a lower price,” he said.

Sealy noted that the government of Barbados has taken a variety of steps to ensure the sustainable development of the tourism industry, one of which included the disbanding of the Barbados Tourism Authority and subsequent formation of the Barbados Tourism Product Authority and the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.

“The BTMI will continue the mandate of the former BTA as it relates to the marketing and promotion of Barbados as a destination… [and] the BTPA’s primary aim is to highlight the symbiotic relationship between product development and marketing. “

Sealy also spoke to the added challenge of competition from developed countries, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and China, which have begun to increasingly formally establish and develop their tourism industries.

He also noted the trend of the modern traveler’s search for authentic experiences  infused with lasting memories, and called for Barbadians to grasp the opportunities provided by the tourist industry to showcase their culture and character as a people.